Monday, March 22, 2010

DWTS 10: And So It Begins ... Again

They welcomed us back to a new season of Dancing With the Stars with familiar music and a new co-host.  I saw Samantha on some ET show or something right before this one, so she's doing okay.  I'm looking forward to Brooke being backstage with the performers.

I took exception to some of the introductions.  Pamela Anderson began it all looking and acting rather slutty just walking down the stairs.  "Hardest working mom in show business" for Kate Gosselin?  I dont think so.  Even Tom had to qualify that.

Anyway, first up tonight were Chad Ochocinco/Cheryl Burke with a Cha-cha. Gosh, he cracks me up.  He's pretty smooth.  Had some hip action goin on there.  Was it perfect?  Nah, but it was fun to watch.  Len called him a rough diamond at the moment, needs some polish, but a great start.  Bruno said he had a huge talent, but rough.  He can dance and can't wait to see him do it again.  Carrie Ann said he had a lil 'sumptin sumptin' goin on there. They got three 6's for 18/30.  Those scores didn't match the comments or the dance I watched.

They have some catbird thing instead of the green room backstage.  They call it the Celebraquarium.  It's in view of the studio audience, actually, and they get to watch the others dance on the floor instead of via monitor.  It's pretty cool.

Next was Shannon Doherty/ Mark Ballas with the Viennese Waltz.  She looked beautiful.  There were a few mistakes where it looked like she forgot her part.  But it was better than I expected, actually.  Bruno commented on the difficult choreography especially for week 1.  Didn't flow for him.  They showed her dad in audience, and he looked so proud.  Shannon said that she was doing the show for him.  Carrie Ann said that she was impressed.  Started out of sync, in her head, but got better.  It's coming.  Len said Viennese Waltz said ease and elegance, and she portrayed it.  Great job, work on footwork.  She was so emotional, she was crying.  Very touching. They also got three 6's for 18/30. Brooke was very encouraging and supportive.

Erin Andrews/Maksim Chmerkovskiy - She started off joking him saying that she asked for Tony, lol.  They are gonna be cute together.  They also had the Cha-cha.  Okay I started with disappointment.  She was not as good or as smooth as I had anticipated.  It might have been nerves, but I just didn't love it as much as I wanted to.  The judges didn't agree.  Carrie Ann said it was a nice surprise, good movement, great connection.  Needs to work on arms and legs not sharp enough.  Len called her a funky monkey, they mean business.  Gave her things to work on, but good job.  Bruno began early making up words, but he said a wonderful debut.  Judges gave them three 7's for 21/30.

Jake Pavelka/Chelsie Hightower were next with the Viennese Waltz.  He started off whining, and Chelsie started having to give him pep talk.  His dance started with a rose, to Seal's song.  Enuf with the roses and Bachelor references, pls.  He was kind of stiff, but she was beautiful.  It was pretty good, though, actually.  Len thought Jake moved very well, work on posture, don't stick buns out, great potential.  Bruno told Jake to calm down, don't bounce her about so much.  Good effort, but looked like a horse. Carrie Ann said she was impressed, lines gorgeous, bravado easy on the eyes.  Romance worked on the dance floor, work on posture, but excellent job.  They got two 7's and a 6 from Len for 20/30.

I'm beginning to think that Chad is getting screwed by going first ...

Niecy Nash/Louis van Ansel - I love Niecy Nash, she cracks me up, she's such a freaking clown.  She said that she wanted to go from a big girl who stands in the back to nice, thick grown woman who stands in the front.  They also had a chacha.  I smiled through the whole performance, they are so cute together.  Very funny, entertaining; hope she hangs around.  Bruno talked about her focus, Carrie Ann called it very nice, energy fantastic.  Len called it clean, clear precise, but uneventful ... nothing happened.  Niecy said that she was just happy that she had a bite of cheeseburger before the dance and that she remembered her routine.  HA! They got a 7 from Carrie Ann, a 5 from Len and a 6 from Bruno for 18/30.

Evan Lysacek/ Anna Trebunskaya - Ugh, he didn't wash that gunk out of his hair.  He commented that his turns are in the opposite direction than when he skates and it makes him dizzy.  Doing Viennese Waltz - wow, very beautiful.  Carrie Ann did a Mary Murphy squeal.  Told him that he had to remember to connect with the audience and to point his toes, but it was very good.  Len said he had great artistry, but has to work on his footwork, work on chemistry with Anna.  Bruno said he moved with grace of a slug, but that it was beautiful??  He got 8's from Carrie Ann and Bruno and a 7 from Len for 23/30.

Special message from the International Space Station before Buzz Aldrin/ Ashly Costa.  I'm so happy she's back.  I loved her dancing, too bad she won't be around long.  They gave him the Cha-cha first.  Unfortunately, this is as painful as I expected it to be.  Poor Ashly.  He got a standing ovation, I guess for surviving it.  Len commented on his watching Buzz walk on the moon, commented on his bravery for coming out there, but the dancing wasn't good.  Bruno said he did a chachacha, but it looked like he still had on his moon boots.  Carrie Ann said that Buzz inspired a ton of people tonight.  They received 5's from Carrie Ann and Bruno, and a 4 from Len for 14/30

Okay, scores and votes from tonight will be combined with the scores and votes for next week to determine the first star eliminated.

Nicole Scherzinger/ Derek Hough got the Viennese Waltz.  It was as gorgeous as I expected.  She's a ringer.  Bruno was astounded and very pleased.  Carrie Ann said the bar has just been set.  Hasn't seen a routine right out of the gate like that ever.  Len brought them right back to earth and told her to work on her technique.  9's from Carrie Ann and Bruno and a 7 from Len for 25/30.  Brooke called her out on her choreography and dancing background, but Nicole said that this was nothing like what she's ever done.

Aiden Turner/ Edyta Sliwinska (fully covered with a parka) - I don't know anything about this guy since I don't watch All My Children.  He is a cutie, though, and seems to have a fun personality.  Their first dance is a Cha-cha.  Okay, that parka didn't last long and she's back to wearing almost nothing.  Unfortunately, he was just a pole for Edyta.  Carrie Ann said she liked the approach, but it felt disjointed.  Len said there's a dancer in there, but said he stood there shaking his wobbly bits.  Bruno said there was nothing going in the groin and  compared him to Kenny Mayne ... yikes... three 5's for 15/30 .

Kate Gosselin/ Tony Dovolani got the Viennese Waltz to start.  I love Tony ... almost as much as I love Maks.  Saying that, he did a beautiful job, but that was boring.  She had a fake smile on her face the entire time.  Len said first dance is like first date, she looked nervous, didn't dance with fluidity.  Bruno said this must be hard, technique was terrible, but she must learn to perform.  Carrie Ann made excuses for her and said that there was a sweet vulnerability, she'll get better.  They got a 6 from Carrie Ann and 2 5's from Len and Bruno for 16/30.

Pamela Anderson/ Damian Whitewood got the pimp spot.  He's new from Burn the Floor so he's got to be a fabulous dancer, but is he a good teacher?  In practice, something happened and he ended up with his face in her boobage.  Alrighty then.  They have a Cha-cha.  She said she's awful.  She really looks slutty, but she's not as bad as she said she was going to be.  It was actually pretty good.  She definitely sold sex with that routine.  Bruno only thinks of sex, sex and more sex when he watches her.  Carrie Ann said that she's been waiting the most to see her, and she did not disappoint.  She was having fun and was fully engaged.  Len said that this cast has been brilliant.  Thought this dance was a mess, though,lol.  She got a 6 from Len, 7 from Carrie Ann and a 8 from Bruno for 21/30.  Was she drunk or high???  She sure appeared to be when backstage with Brooke.

The second round of dancing and judges scoring will be next Monday.  After tonight's round one, the judges leaderboard looks like this:

Nicole/Derek - 25
Evan/Anna - 23
Erin/Maks - 21
Pamela/Damian - 21
Jake/Chelsie - 20
Chad/Cheryl - 18
Shannon/Mark - 18
Niecy/Louis - 18
Kate/Tony - 16
Aiden/Edyta - 15
Buzz/Ashly - 14

My leaderboard looks a little different.  Yes, Nicole and Evan are at the top, but Chad and Niecy are above Erin, Pamela and Jake.  I judge on entertainment, though.  I also thought Brooke had a good outing as well.  She was relaxed, encouraging and supportive without coming across as fake or patronizing.  She has room for improvement, but I think that she will do well.

Remember no show tomorrow and the first Dancing With the Stars elimination show is NEXT Tuesday after another go round of dancing next Monday.  It was a very good first show, and I can't wait until next week.  What did you think of the season premiere of Dancieng With the Stars?  Agree or disagree with the judges?  Let's discuss ...

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